Wakeboard biz left high and dry

Tweed mayor Barry Longland cast the deciding vote to refuse Pro-Wake Academy's development application.

Mairi Manley

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TWEED Shire Council has left a tourism operator who ran a wakeboarding coaching clinic in Fingal for the past five years in limbo.

Councillors decided to refuse a development application today for Pro-Wake Academy to operate between Fingal and Chinderah.

The business had been operating for five years without approval from council.

The vote on the application was split three to three, with mayor Barry Longland declaring a casting vote to accept the officers' recommendations and refuse the application.

Cr Dot Holdom said wakeboarding had the greatest impact on shore erosion from boat users.

"It needs the greatest amount of energy possible behind the boat so you are going to have the greatest wake," Cr Holdom said.

"You just can't drop something with this magnitude in the river."

Cr Phil Youngblutt said the damage to the shore from wakeboarding was minimal in that area compared to other causes of erosion.

"I think that spot would get more wave action from the prevailing winds than this business," he said.

Cr Youngblutt, Cr Warren Polglase, Cr Joan van Lieshout signed a rescission motion to reconsider the application at the next council meeting.

Cr Kevin Skinner was absent from the council meeting on Tuesday so was unable to vote on the application.